Commercial Road lost its pizazz when it was paved

It is showing The Knack which was released that year.

Dunn & Co, the gentleman’s outfitters, used to do good trade, as no doubt did most of the stores along this section of what was Portsmouth’s busiest shopping street at the time.

Woolworth’s is there too.

It has of course all been pedestrianised but sadly it’s lost some of its pizazz.

n On the opposite page we see Bedhampton Halt in the 1960s with a fast Brighton passing through.

The station, or halts as these small stations were then called, would have looked exactly the same as when it was constructed in 1906.

The old Roman Road from Chichester to Winchester, then the A27, passes over the level crossing just beyond the footbridge.

On the up side at the end of the platform is a small booking office and a waiting room.

On the downside is a large waiting room which had large windows fitted without glass! On a cold winter’s day the wind off the marshes could cut waiting passenger in half.

All of what can be seen has been swept away with modernisation. The footbridge remains and the level crossing gates are now automatic barriers.

n I don’t suppose for a minute there is anyone still with us who can remember Red Lion House, Red Lion Yard in Old Portsmouth in the bottom right photograph?

It was to be demolished in 1939 to make way for an extension to the Anglican Cathedral.

In Tudor times it was the Red Lion Inn. During the Civil War Oliver Cromwell’s officers stayed there.

I just wonder if the demolition of this 450-year-old building, or the many others in this part of the city that were demolished in the 1950s and 1960s, would be allowed today.

n I must admit to never hearing of it but did any of you senior readers and those who served in the navy ever use Shavex? It states that no water has to be used although a little would help.

The advert states millions used the product all over the world – did you?